Lakers' LeBron James will sit out vs. Spurs, ending his All-NBA streak

Benjamin Royer, The Orange County Register on Feb 10, 2026

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LOS ANGELES — LeBron James will miss his 18th game of the season on Tuesday night, confirming that the 41-year-old Lakers’ star will fall short of 65 total games and therefore end his bid at postseason awards as well as his 21-year streak of receiving All-NBA honors.

Players, albeit with some exceptions, must play 65 games to be eligible for end-of-season awards.

James (left foot arthritis), who was announced as out against the San Antonio Spurs in the second game of a back-to-back after the Lakers dropped Monday night’s contest to the Oklahoma City Thunder, joins forward Luka Doncic (left hamstring strain, third consecutive game out), guard Marcus Smart (right ankle soreness) and guard Austin Reaves (left calf injury management) as not playing against their Victor Wembanyama-led foes.

After falling to the Thunder, who were sans Shai Gilgeous-Alexander on Monday, James fired off a tad of a tirade on the difference in championship quality play between Oklahoma City and L.A.

“I’m kind of tired …. I’m tired,” James said postgame, after scoring 14 of his 22 points in the second half in a comeback bid. “No, I’m not sick. I’m just tired as f---. Sorry if I sound irritated, but I’m 41. My (patience for) irritation is being very, very low as the days go on.”

James last missed a game on Jan. 7, a Lakers’ defeat to the Spurs in San Antonio. So far through his eighth season with the Lakers and 23rd season overall, James has averaged 21.8 points, 6.9 assists and 5.7 rebounds per game. As of Feb. 10, the points marker would be his fewest since his rookie season with the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2003-04.

Doncic, who left Thursday’s game against the Philadelphia 76ers last week grabbing his left hamstring, remains out once again — keeping his status for the All-Star Game at the Intuit Dome in limbo as the days before the festivities loom closer.

Center Deandre Ayton was listed as questionable against the Spurs with right knee soreness, while rookie forward Adou Thiero (right MCL sprain) is not listed on the injury report for the first time since late December. Thiero had been practicing with the South Bay Lakers earlier this week as he prepared for a return to action.